Hi there guys, basically, here is my story. My friend, whose parents are willing to spend money gallore on him, just got 2 12 inch Punch Subwoofers (No Amp for some reason) for his WRX STi (my dream car, which he stole). So I know that Rockford Fosgate is not a particularly good company, and he did not do any research, so I'm hoping you guys could suggest a system for relatively cheap say 300 max (I know thats really cheap) that could beat his system, not necesarily on loudness, but on the full package.
P.S. He did not separate the frequencies, so you can't hear any of the words to the music. How do you do that?
P.P.S. I have a busted 1990 Mazda 626 or I might be able to put it in a 2005 Toyota Prius, but then it must be small...
Thanks for all your help!
Replies (43)
audeogod on 01/31/2005 22:55:31
He didn't get an amp!?!? How's he running the subs?? If there truly is no amp, then you should be able to beat him hands down. Trouble is, he will just be back next week with an amp and beat you since his parents have a bottomless wallet.
Don't know what you mean about separating the frequencies so you can't hear lyrics. Unless you mean that he used a crossover on the subs to filter out mids and highs. You are supposed to do that so they only get low bass. He probably does have an amp if he did that.
Also, $300 is enough to get you a decent head unit stereo and maybe a good pair of speakers. Or even two pairs of speakers if you shop at Wal-Mart or on eBay. That's about all though. But that would be good in itself I think. Subs are N..I..C..E though.
What do you mean the Mazda is busted?? Blown engine??
Back to audio, do you have any equipment now at all??
And before I go any further, are you jealous of him and his money/system/car?? Any or all of the above?? Not that I care, just curious. Did he do something that makes you really want to smoke him??
audeogod on 01/31/2005 22:56:35
One more thing. I don't think Rockford Fosgate is a bad company. I have a Punch amp and I love it.
Mr._Miyagi on 01/31/2005 23:04:14
What i meant about the frequencies is he DID NOT i repeat DID NOT use cross overs so that the Sub is trying to produce the highs.
Ummm sorry to sound stupid, What does head unit mean? like where u adjust the volume etc? and how is that worth getting?
By busted, I dont mean broken, the engine works, but it's ready for Xzibit to come Pimp it. The interior is shot, the radio has seisures etc. The Prius on the other hand is brand new, but my mom doesn't want subwoofers or any of that darn hippity hop music. So it would be good if I could get decent Bass from speakers instead of Subs I guess.
Currently in the Mazda, No equipment.
On the Jealousy, H*** yes I'm jealous, we are like best friends but for a long ass time the STi has been my dream car, and he bout it right after I told hiim about it. H*** yes I am jealous of his money...who wouldnt be, before he got his STi, he drove his Parents E500 and S something I forgot the d*** model. I am not, jealous of his System, its busted cuz he doesnt know s*** about what he is doing, he didnt even bolt down the enclosure so it slides around when he drives.
What Speakers would you suggest?
danielm87 on 01/31/2005 23:28:46
Hey Mr. Miyagi, your kinda scaring me man. Somebody with subs but no amp can crossover the words out of music that cant be played through a subwoofer, when in reality a crossover is SUPPOSED to filter out highs to a sub by way of the amplifier, which he doesnt have?
Second of all, Punch subwoofers are no match for Audiobahn or anything in the SPL department. You can whip his tail along with half the folks in town if you get everything right! emphasis on getting everything RIGHT.
Thirdly, 300 dollars is more than enough to get started for Christ sakes. Take my current setup for example-
H/U - Pioneer DEH-15= $45 (used once to test, new)
Wires(all+fuse&holder) - KnuKonceptz= $20 (new)
AMP - Coustic 801DB (400watts@4ohm,800watts@2ohm)= 130$
SUB - Audiobahn AW1206T (1100wattsRMS) = $121 (new)
BOX - Homemade to Audiobahn specs.(22$ for 4'x8' MDF)
Mids - Used 6x9s got free from relative
Highs - Infinity Kappa Series 3.5" = $40
__________________________________________________
MY TOTAL SYSTEM= 378$
Decibel level being hit = Around 130-135 at PTF
Do your homework and you'll be happy!
Thats essentially the drivers and things you need for a system, ALONG with some serious help from the experts at CK. Let them get you straightened out, you wont be disappointed, but dont forget, include details with what you say and they can help you better!
P.S. - Try to keep the cursing to an extremely dull whisper in here, THE KIDS ARE WATCHING! Thanks.
uochronos on 02/1/2005 02:01:29
ok first off how is he running a sub with no amp???? this as far as i know isnt really possible... if he is using the Head Unit to run it then it should abrely be making any sound at all.. and that cant be great on the sub.
as for is the HU an important part? yes it is the back bone of the system everything in some way runs off of it... this is not a part you want to skimp on... no reason to go out and spend a mother load on it. a good entry level HU can be ahd new for 100-150$.
as for an amp there are many amps from 90-150$ that have modest power but well work well..
as for subs there are an endless stream of them
Adire Shiva
Audiobahn make some good ones but not built to sound good just to get loud
Alpine Type S and Type R are great subs for a small budget
infinity makes some good ones as well..
alls subs above can be found for under 125$
if it was me i would go with a type S or a Adire Shiva on a small budget both get qutie loud but also have well above average sound quality..
as for door speakers there are many many options as well...
infinity
alpine
CDT
and many more
now that i have shown you some options. i would liek to tell you that 300$ for the whol system door speaker, amp, sub, HU, wires. you are not going to get an amazing system you might get something loud but i think your looking for loud and good quality sound as well..
why not invest in a decent HU and door speakers now or a decent HU and a sub now.... and then save up for the rest... trust me i know its hard especialy when you have friends whos parents have money... i have a few like that and it used to drive me crazy. but its worth the bit of a wait to get some stuff that well really really blow his mind hehe:)
Chronos
audeogod on 02/1/2005 08:24:01
OH, by the way, I don't think anybody actually said it. The head unit, or HU, is the CD player or tape deck that goes in your dash. It's the "radio" itself.
Mr._Miyagi on 02/1/2005 08:42:57
Thanks so much for your help guys, I think I will just try gettin some nice door speakers and a head unit for now. I'll do a little research see what I can find for cheap and keep you guys updated. Also, today I will get to the bottom of this Amp-less mystery, because I could be wrong. Thanks so much!
swez on 02/1/2005 09:27:34
Try to think of this project as a long term process. Doing things a piece at a time, but planning ahead as you buy initially. It's really an ongoing process, not a one time event. We can help you with finding quality gear at pretty low budget prices too. Here's a general game plan to consider:
1. Get a good HU (radio) One that has the features you desire and can add amplification later via RCA outputs. Most aftermarket HU's deliver 18-26 watts (RMS) power per channel. Some of the better models have AUX inputs, so you can add portable devices if you wish. Some of the better brands are Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer, Blaupunkt and the upper end Sony's are not all bad either. This is your mixing console for everything to come later. Don't scrimp on this purchase or will be yanking it out for a better one later.
2. Speakers are the soul of a system. Once you know what sizes are needed, go and demo a few brands until you find one that sounds good to your ears. For the front part of the car, this is where we often invest the most $$. Some like 2-3 way Coaxials. Those who really want the best, use component speakers. (midbass and tweeter with a high quality crossover) For the rear stage of the car, 2-way Coaxials will do fine in most cases. Alpine, Pioneer Premier, Infinity and many others will offer great performance... especially with additional amping power.
3. Subs are the bad boys that give us the lower 2 octaves of bass. We have to match them carefully to a given system with the proper amp and filtering. A single 10 or 12" sub will give some nice bump at say 300 watts (RMS) power.
There is much more detail to follow, but this is intended more as a primmer. Chew it all over and have a look at our DIY articles. Lots of good info there.
Swez
PS Welcome to CK. Please note this is a PG rated site. We don't allow colorful language. Would you mind going back to edit them out. Thanks!
Mr._Miyagi on 02/1/2005 16:10:14
Hey so it turns out my dad has some old speakers that he got for free from somewhere and I was wondering if I should use them. They are sony EXS-63 Coaxial 2-way speakers 60 W Max. Input power. If I use them, should I just put em in the back and buy new ones for the front? Also, my radio as it is right now, turns on and off randomly, do you think a new HU would fix that or do i need electrical done?
Mr._Miyagi on 02/1/2005 16:10:59
By the way, Thanks so much for all your help so far, it really is a great source of knowledge! Keep up the good work!
Mr._Miyagi on 02/1/2005 16:28:21
Is this a good head unit? Blaupunkt BPV 660 CD Stereo Receiver
I found it on http://www.thezeb.com/p-Blaupunkt-BPV-660-CD-Stereo-Receiver-100668.htm and it says it used to be $229 and is now $85. What do you guys think?
Mr._Miyagi on 02/1/2005 16:47:37
what do you think? the Blaupunkt or this Panasonic MXE CQ-C5210U which i found on crutchfield for $150? In terms of the specs, I can't see why the Panasonic is better then the Blau cuz the Blau has 27 RMS and the Pana has 25 RMS. Any suggestions?
uochronos on 02/1/2005 16:50:35
for free try those sony speakers cant hurt to try them can it. but sony is known for there speakers tend to be really shrill sounding on the highs... can get a better set for 40-60$ online...
as for the HU blaupunkt makes some good HU's
alpine
pioneer
kenwood
blaupunkt
JVC
all make good HU's
now when looking for an HU the main idea is get every thin you need... make sure it has a Decent Equalizer(EQ) , enoughy RCA preouts.. you well need at least a non fading sub output and preferabley 2 full range outs a front and a rear channel. and any other feature you may want to have.
if you where looking to spend 300$ as mentioned earlier... may i suggest getting a decent alpine, pioneer or kenwood HU and a pair of CL-61a CDT components from www.thezeb.com you should be able to get both for around 250-300$ and you well get some amazing sound...
a good HU with a nice set of component speakers like the CDT's i mentioned well be very impresive sounding... for awhile alls i had was my HU and a set of components in my truck it sounded wonderfull and i'm a SQ nut...
if you got for insatance the HU you found or a similar one for around 100$ and then the CDT's for 150$ that would be a very good sounding start. and you would still have 50$ to use to get a decent set of rear fill speakers... or use the ones your dad gave you for rear fill...
i think this set up or a similar one well impress your friend alot... and if it doesnt then he is just jealous hehe.
Chronos
audeogod on 02/1/2005 17:25:02
Some people may frown on this, but I got almost all my gear at Wal-Mart. Their Pioneer stereos are just as good as a Pioneer you'd buy of the same level at an audio store. They only carry the mid to low level lines of Pioneer in the $189 and down range, but it's the same stuff as at another store unless you want more features that aren't found on these lower models. But the higher end Pioneers sell for sometimes more than you have to spend on your whole system at the moment. Like $500 or more. And the lower end ones sound the same. Higher end ones have more RCA outs, and other functions, but sound quality would be the same since they mostly have the same EQ set up from low end to high end. Occasionally, Pioneer will change this for one year or so like some higher models a couple years ago had 3 band EQ's and also a separate bass and treble setting that was fixed at a certain frequency. That in essence made it a 5 band EQ where the lower models didn't have that and were only 3 band EQ's only.
Anyway, I found that I liked the Pioneers Wal-Mart had. Their speakers are OK too, I got all of mine there, but I wasn't completely satisfied with them. But some of that was due to the locations and sizes that my truck takes. Every car is different. I had a car, not a truck, that also all came from Wal-Mart and I loved every minute of it until I sold it for this truck, and had to start over on a new system.
Wal-Mart currently sells the Pioneer, Sony, and Lightning Audio brands of speakers. They had Pioneer, Sony, and JVC head units. You will also find low level, just about worthless stuff there like Road Gear and Road Master. They used to carry Jensen too but not anymore. I rarely ever heard anything by Jensen that I liked. But it was affordable. Recently they started selling Dual, which I never heard of, but someone else said it used to be a great name but some company bought it out just for the name and was making worthless gear under it. I don't know personally.
This is all based on the Wal-Mart store near me. Yours may be different if you have one near you(hard to imagine you don't), but they're all supposed to be similar so check it out.
uochronos on 02/1/2005 18:24:03
actualy wal mart sell pioneer not pioneer premier deck which makes a big differnce in quality and the features... also they sell lower end speakers and HU's. not bashing on you audeogod just letting light on this... a pioneer say deh-p6400 and a deh-p640 are completly differnt HU's only 1 digit differnce on model number but the p640 has a better EQ, DSP, and better RCA voltage which all makes a huge differnce...
also they sell low end coaxil speakers the differnce between there coaxils and the ones you would get online or from a car audio store are going to be a huge differnce..
the reason i bring this up is i bought a Deh-p6400 instead of a deh-p640 because the guy at best buy told me it was basicaly the same deck just an internal amp was differnt... well to say the least i saived 100$ but got a HU that wasnt at all what i needed nor nearly as good as the one i should have got... that was 4 years ago i learned my lessong when buy from retail store whether it be wall mart, best buy or car toys. You get what you pay for. if wal mart is 100$ cheaper then car toys it is for a reason and you well get what you pay for...
not saying dont buy from wal mart if they have what you want but i'm saying dont be taken in by them. the HU's, speakers and amps they sell are not the same as the better models found at cartoys, and other local car audio dealers.
Chronos
audeogod on 02/1/2005 18:54:36
Yeah, I know about Pioneer vs. Pioneer Premier. But what I'm talking about is Pioneer at Wal-Mart vs. Pioneer(not Premier) at somewhere else.
The best example I can think of is back in 99 when they first came out with the new Mosfet HU's. Wal-Mart sold a DEH-10. Everywhere else, K-mart and all, it was a DEH-1000. Neither of these was a Premier model. As far as I could see, the only difference was that the 10 had orange lights, and the 1000 had green.
No arguement on the speakers though. I'm not fully happy with mine. I thought I was at first, cause it's a major difference from factory, but I still can't get it to sound exactly like I'd like, and I'm not sure how much of that is from the location vs. what they are, and like you said, where they came from.
uochronos on 02/1/2005 19:06:51
well i couldnt even find info on the DEH-10 but found the specs for the DEH0-1000... i can tell you right now though that no company makes 2 HU models that are identical except for the color of the screen... the internal parts are problay way differnt if they where the same just cheaper why wouldnt everyone carry the cheaper one?
the RMS rating on the more expensive one could be higher, the eq could be better, the RCA's could be higher voltage, etc..
i have never seen any company though make 2 identical HU's just one more expensive...
Chronos
Mr._Miyagi on 02/1/2005 19:27:07
I don't mean to be rude but I'll interject real quick. Anyone have any thoughts on the Radio issue (It turning on and off randomly) and the Blaupunkt vs Panasonic HU? Thanks
uochronos on 02/1/2005 19:48:18
i have never used a panasonic HU but if it has all the features you need i dont see a problem with them... both blaupunkt and panasonic have been around for awhile... might wanna look into JVC as well they make some great products cheap.
i suggest looking on ebay and www.thezeb.com crutchfield is far over priced on 90% of there products...
as for turning on and off randomly... sounds like a loose wire somewhere or a bad internal part... i would check all the power and grounds.
Chronos
audeogod on 02/1/2005 20:20:19
I have one of the DEH-10 stereos in my wife's car. I bought it several years ago. I have the owner's manual too still. I will try to find the specs on the DEH-1000 and see if they match what my manual says. But as far as I remember, what they publish for specs was an exact match. May be some other differences inside though. Something that's not listed on the information sheet.
I figured it's because Wal-Mart persuaded this company to make a product that only they would have. So they could get it cheaper or sell it cheaper or something. I used to work there, so I'm negatively biased against Wal-Mart. I also saw that they had an Abu Garcia fishing reel that had the Wal-Mart logo on the reel itself. It was made by Garcia, and you could buy the same model at K-mart, and Bass Pro Shops, but not with the Wal-Mart FLW Tour logo on it. Model number was similar, but not the same. Features were identical though.
I thought this Pioneer stereo was another example of that then too, so I checked up on the specs to see what they were and it was all the same RMS and PEAK values and all. EQ was the same for frequency adjustments and all. Color was the only difference I ever found aside from the Model number.
They did a whole series of these. They also had the DEH-20(same as DEH-2000) and the only difference from The DEH-10 was the detachable face.
The following year, it was the DEH-11(same as DEH-1100). It went on like that all the way until I quit in 2002 after 10 years working there. I quit following the Pioneer model numbers then too. But like I said, I never found a single difference visually, audibly, or otherwise the whole time I worked there.
For myself I got a DEH-P41 from Wally World, which should be the same as the DEH-P4100.
Anyway, I got too far off track here. My original opinion on this still stands since in my experience, they had good equipment from Pioneer. It was affordable, and good quality. JVC makes excellent products too. Never owned or fooled with a Blaupunkt so I couldn't say on that.
I got my Pioneer from Wal-Mart and I've had the same deck since 2000 and it's been going strong now and has been in three different cars/truck. I paid $199 for it. It even had a car alarm built right into it, but I never wired that part up. Wasn't shock sensing, only electrical so I figured why bother cause a thief ain't gonna open the door with a key and turn on the light, he's gonna bust a window.
Mr._Miyagi on 02/1/2005 20:24:56
ive been researching HUs all day now and have come to the conclusion I want an Alpine, Problem is I am quite confused. Would one of you guys suggest an alpine head unit 150 or cheaper? all I need in terms of features, CD, FM/AM, and some outputs or whatever for an amp or whatnot. Thanks so much!
audeogod on 02/1/2005 20:29:48
One other thing I want to clarify. I am negative about Wal-Mart on their marketing strategies, employee treatment and such. Not their products. I've had no trouble from anything I've bought their other than the usual defects that you might find anywhere you go.
And also, I don't know what the implications are of posting here about negatives of a store(maybe being deflamatory), but I am not trying to get anything started. I just was trying to explain how I thought that they could be getting their own products, so to speak, from major companies, that other stores wouldn't have by using their buying powers and such. I see that as twisting the industry's arm to make it do what you say. Monopolizing if you will. Maybe I better quit....
gearhead on 02/1/2005 21:08:48
I just got done with an amp/speaker upgrade/CD changer install. I used the factory HU (Chrysler) and it sounds just fine to me. The stock HU has all of the functions I need (AM/FM/Cassette). Best of all, the cost of the HU was $0.
uochronos on 02/2/2005 02:36:10
good choice alpine makes some of the very best HU's
Alpine
CDA-9825 AM/FM CD Player
is the one i found that suits your needs the best from what i can tell... it also is the only one in your price range that has multiple RCA preouts.. that way you can hook up multiple amps later if needed or wanted:)
this HU retails for 199.99 but shop online a bit and you can get that down to 150 or less very likly... i cant look tonight but i well browse and find you some good buys on it tommarow..
Chronos
Mr._Miyagi on 02/2/2005 13:17:35
Thanks for the suggetion. I looked around and that seems to have been replaced by model #9820. I can't find the 25 around at most sites but the 20 i so much more expensive. What shall i do?
uochronos on 02/2/2005 14:18:41
i went to www.froogle.com and searched for it found a bunch of them for 140-160$ and a couple on ebay for 110-140$ all where new that i looked at.. they where all the CDA-9825 model..
i know its an older model thats why i suggested it last years model well be cheap at alot of online places...
Chronos
Mr._Miyagi on 02/3/2005 21:08:12
Quick question, when i do the rear coax speaker install, do i just rip out the old ones, and put the wires from the old into the new? This is before I purchase a head unit and new speakers. The speakers that I'm installing have no instructions.
audeogod on 02/3/2005 21:25:31
Well, when you say "rip out" I hope you mean remove with tools, haha. Anyway, if you got an exact size match to your factory speakers, then you can cut the wires to the old ones, leaving them long enough to work with of course, and using crimp connectors(I like the blue butt connectors the best), attach the speaker leads that your new speakers "should have" come with and then plug them into your new speakers to be able to play them.
Now for some details. First, you want to make sure you have the polarity correct for your new speakers. And you might want to leave a little wire on the old factory harness for incase you ever decide to take out your new speakers and reinstall the old ones so you can sell the car, and keep your gear.
This is a two fold deal since leaving a little wire(about 1.5 - 2 inches should be plenty), will also let you test the old speaker for polarity. That way you don't need a factory color code to know which wire is what.
Use a 9 volt battery and touch it to the speaker leads on the old speaker. This will tell you which side of the old speaker was the positive. If the battery polarity is right, the speaker will move outward. If it goes inward then it's backwards. Then when you figure that out, look at the wire color that the positive battery terminal was touching. That color in your car is the positive speaker lead and should be attached to the new speaker's positive terminal. Easy as sin. See?
Then you just bolt up the new speaker to the old hole. Same thing on all the other speakers. Makes factory replacement an easy job.
audeogod on 02/3/2005 21:34:04
Well, I said it was an easy job, but here's how it could be hard. Every car is different and getting to the speakers could be difficult. Taking trim and grills off and all. Go slow if you don't see any easy way of getting to them. Look for screws to remove that would be necessary to remove. If trim is still stuck, then it has some hidden clips or fittings that should "pop" off with a little convincing. Be careful since this could be the part of the install that goes south in a hurry if you get in a hurry and break something you wish you would not have. Friction fittings can be stubborn, but I've never had a problem getting them to come off if you take your time. I can't stress this enough since in old cars the trim or anything plastic sometimes becomes brittle from being exposed to extreme heats and colds and is easy to break sometimes.
uochronos on 02/3/2005 21:41:11
you can leave the stock plug on and buw an adaptor... or make your own... they sell adaptors for many common cars and i have made a couple out of crimps... also you can use a dab of solder to connect the wire to the terminal that way tyou can easily reinstall stock speakers later....
just my 2 cents..
Chronos
Mr._Miyagi on 02/3/2005 23:07:42
Do u think I can get these supplies that should have come with my speakers at like Ace Hardware or Autozone or something?
Mr._Miyagi on 02/3/2005 23:19:11
Any of you guys know a somewhat good car audio book or something? None of my friends know anymore then me about this. And though you say its easy, it seems quite hard. Anyhow, either way, I think ill mess wit the car tomorrow and just hope for the best. I just wish I had someone near me who has done this before.
uochronos on 02/4/2005 00:13:43
pretty simple just hook one wire to one terminal and the other wire to the other terminal.. the only trick part is make sure you hook the positive to positive and negitive to negetive... hooking thme up backwards wont hurt the speaker but it was sound as loud is they dont all play in phase.
Chronos
audeogod on 02/4/2005 00:55:25
Go to www.crutchfield.com. Order a free catalog. It's full of car audio gear at pretty high prices. You just want this catalog cause it's full of information that will tell you what to look for when buying gear. But I'd buy equipment from online places like eBay and others. Crutchfield has some OK prices and also lots of freebies when you buy from them like installation kits and harnesses and instructions for your specific car. Also they offer tech help from a 1-800 phone number. You can even buy instructions for taking your car apart to install it all for about $5.
Anyway, in the catalog, you will find where you can order a free guide to car stereo installation. It will teach you even more. A lot more! This will really get you going on installing and understanding this stuff.
Both of these are free. But also in the catalog is a car stereo book called the "car stereo cookbook". It's about $25 but I've heard it's well worth it. I was going to get one myself but I wanted to wait and see if it would teach me anymore than I already know. If you don't know much at all, then it would teach you a lot.
But I learned a lot just from the free stuff.
Mr._Miyagi on 02/4/2005 17:44:09
Ok so it turns out my front speakers are 4 in speakers according to crutchfield, but my trunk lid ones are infact 6 and 1/2 inch
Mr._Miyagi on 02/4/2005 22:22:36
Any recommendations for 4 inch component speakers? I had such a great deal for 6 1/2 components, so now I am bummed. I was gonna get these http://www.thezeb.com/p-CDT-Audio-CL-61A-6-1-2-inch-Component-System-101083.htm but now, if i want the same model, but in 4 inch form, id pay 90 buck more...Is it even worth it to do this project or is 4 inch comps just not worth the money?
audeogod on 02/4/2005 22:51:06
I don't know about the 4" component thing, but to remove rear speakers, you'll have to first remove the top of the rear deck. You can see the bottom of the speaker from the trunk, but they most likely will be mounted in from the top. So if you remove the rear deck cover, you should see the screws that hold them in.
This may be harder than sounds. You have to look to see what all trim is around it and on top of it that might be holding it in place. It might take some time, but it usually can be done within a few hours, and maybe a little longer if you are inexperienced. I don't have any specific directions for you except to say to contact Crutchfield. They may have a set of plans for your car that you can purchase for about $5.00.
Mr._Miyagi on 02/4/2005 22:55:05
one problem I am having (out of many) is that I can't figure out how the carpeting on the trunklid is attached. In the beginning I thought it was with screws (which turned out to be plastic screws) but now I think it is glued on. Any body have any experience with removing that sort of thing?
Mr._Miyagi on 02/5/2005 16:31:15
Today, I asked Crutchfield to recommend some speakers and this is what they came up with. JBL GTO426 for the 4 inchers and Infinity Reference 6002si for the 6 and 1/2 inchers, and then I will get either the Panasonic MXE CQ-C5210U H/U or the previously suggested Alpine CDA-9825 or CDA-9820 or something around there. Opinions? should I look for better speakers? Which H/U do you guys think?
uochronos on 02/5/2005 22:29:17
MA, CDT, infinit i belive all mke 4" components but you can probaly cut a 6.5 hole if you dont mind cutting hehe..
CDT HD series has a nice set of 4" components but they are a bit spendy.
Chronos
uochronos on 02/8/2005 02:46:40
honestly all the HU's you list are good... and about eqaul... the biggest thing i would lean towards is if one has mroe RCA's for later upgrades.. Honestly i think i have told you all i can about the differnt HU's you made some fine selections in your price range and all about equal out. its more your own personaly like now..
As for the speakers infinity makes some fine speakers well brighten up your rear stage great. i personaly have always loved Infinity.
Only suggestion i have is i didnt realize the 4" fronts where coaxils.. if you have a bit of extra money might wanna look for a set of 4" components for the front. this well greatly increase your sound quality of the front stage.
I dont have time right now but i well look up some good 4" comps in your price range and list them here later tonight or tommarow afternoon.
Chronos
Good Luck.
Mr._Miyagi on 02/8/2005 10:02:27
Sorry bout that Chronos, the reason this message board went up to the top was cuz i edited some messeges, that one that you were replying to was actualy old, Im stickin with my current HU, The Pioneer. As for the rears, I probably will get those CDTs, but input on the 4'' comps would be nice. Thanks
ryan2 on 02/8/2005 13:23:12
For your fronts you can still go with the 61/2's still. You might even have to cut a bigger hole. In my cavalier the stock front speakers are 4x6's. I bought a pair of the CDT Cl-61a 61/2's and they went in fine all i had to do was make a 1/2" ring to go behind the speaker so the magnet wouldnt hit the window.
P.S. He did not separate the frequencies, so you can't hear any of the words to the music. How do you do that?
P.P.S. I have a busted 1990 Mazda 626 or I might be able to put it in a 2005 Toyota Prius, but then it must be small...
Thanks for all your help!
Replies (43)
audeogod on 01/31/2005 22:55:31
He didn't get an amp!?!? How's he running the subs?? If there truly is no amp, then you should be able to beat him hands down. Trouble is, he will just be back next week with an amp and beat you since his parents have a bottomless wallet.
Don't know what you mean about separating the frequencies so you can't hear lyrics. Unless you mean that he used a crossover on the subs to filter out mids and highs. You are supposed to do that so they only get low bass. He probably does have an amp if he did that.
Also, $300 is enough to get you a decent head unit stereo and maybe a good pair of speakers. Or even two pairs of speakers if you shop at Wal-Mart or on eBay. That's about all though. But that would be good in itself I think. Subs are N..I..C..E though.
What do you mean the Mazda is busted?? Blown engine??
Back to audio, do you have any equipment now at all??
And before I go any further, are you jealous of him and his money/system/car?? Any or all of the above?? Not that I care, just curious. Did he do something that makes you really want to smoke him??
audeogod on 01/31/2005 22:56:35
One more thing. I don't think Rockford Fosgate is a bad company. I have a Punch amp and I love it.
Mr._Miyagi on 01/31/2005 23:04:14
What i meant about the frequencies is he DID NOT i repeat DID NOT use cross overs so that the Sub is trying to produce the highs.
Ummm sorry to sound stupid, What does head unit mean? like where u adjust the volume etc? and how is that worth getting?
By busted, I dont mean broken, the engine works, but it's ready for Xzibit to come Pimp it. The interior is shot, the radio has seisures etc. The Prius on the other hand is brand new, but my mom doesn't want subwoofers or any of that darn hippity hop music. So it would be good if I could get decent Bass from speakers instead of Subs I guess.
Currently in the Mazda, No equipment.
On the Jealousy, H*** yes I'm jealous, we are like best friends but for a long ass time the STi has been my dream car, and he bout it right after I told hiim about it. H*** yes I am jealous of his money...who wouldnt be, before he got his STi, he drove his Parents E500 and S something I forgot the d*** model. I am not, jealous of his System, its busted cuz he doesnt know s*** about what he is doing, he didnt even bolt down the enclosure so it slides around when he drives.
What Speakers would you suggest?
danielm87 on 01/31/2005 23:28:46
Hey Mr. Miyagi, your kinda scaring me man. Somebody with subs but no amp can crossover the words out of music that cant be played through a subwoofer, when in reality a crossover is SUPPOSED to filter out highs to a sub by way of the amplifier, which he doesnt have?
Second of all, Punch subwoofers are no match for Audiobahn or anything in the SPL department. You can whip his tail along with half the folks in town if you get everything right! emphasis on getting everything RIGHT.
Thirdly, 300 dollars is more than enough to get started for Christ sakes. Take my current setup for example-
H/U - Pioneer DEH-15= $45 (used once to test, new)
Wires(all+fuse&holder) - KnuKonceptz= $20 (new)
AMP - Coustic 801DB (400watts@4ohm,800watts@2ohm)= 130$
SUB - Audiobahn AW1206T (1100wattsRMS) = $121 (new)
BOX - Homemade to Audiobahn specs.(22$ for 4'x8' MDF)
Mids - Used 6x9s got free from relative
Highs - Infinity Kappa Series 3.5" = $40
__________________________________________________
MY TOTAL SYSTEM= 378$
Decibel level being hit = Around 130-135 at PTF
Do your homework and you'll be happy!
Thats essentially the drivers and things you need for a system, ALONG with some serious help from the experts at CK. Let them get you straightened out, you wont be disappointed, but dont forget, include details with what you say and they can help you better!
P.S. - Try to keep the cursing to an extremely dull whisper in here, THE KIDS ARE WATCHING! Thanks.
uochronos on 02/1/2005 02:01:29
ok first off how is he running a sub with no amp???? this as far as i know isnt really possible... if he is using the Head Unit to run it then it should abrely be making any sound at all.. and that cant be great on the sub.
as for is the HU an important part? yes it is the back bone of the system everything in some way runs off of it... this is not a part you want to skimp on... no reason to go out and spend a mother load on it. a good entry level HU can be ahd new for 100-150$.
as for an amp there are many amps from 90-150$ that have modest power but well work well..
as for subs there are an endless stream of them
Adire Shiva
Audiobahn make some good ones but not built to sound good just to get loud
Alpine Type S and Type R are great subs for a small budget
infinity makes some good ones as well..
alls subs above can be found for under 125$
if it was me i would go with a type S or a Adire Shiva on a small budget both get qutie loud but also have well above average sound quality..
as for door speakers there are many many options as well...
infinity
alpine
CDT
and many more
now that i have shown you some options. i would liek to tell you that 300$ for the whol system door speaker, amp, sub, HU, wires. you are not going to get an amazing system you might get something loud but i think your looking for loud and good quality sound as well..
why not invest in a decent HU and door speakers now or a decent HU and a sub now.... and then save up for the rest... trust me i know its hard especialy when you have friends whos parents have money... i have a few like that and it used to drive me crazy. but its worth the bit of a wait to get some stuff that well really really blow his mind hehe:)
Chronos
audeogod on 02/1/2005 08:24:01
OH, by the way, I don't think anybody actually said it. The head unit, or HU, is the CD player or tape deck that goes in your dash. It's the "radio" itself.
Mr._Miyagi on 02/1/2005 08:42:57
Thanks so much for your help guys, I think I will just try gettin some nice door speakers and a head unit for now. I'll do a little research see what I can find for cheap and keep you guys updated. Also, today I will get to the bottom of this Amp-less mystery, because I could be wrong. Thanks so much!
swez on 02/1/2005 09:27:34
Try to think of this project as a long term process. Doing things a piece at a time, but planning ahead as you buy initially. It's really an ongoing process, not a one time event. We can help you with finding quality gear at pretty low budget prices too. Here's a general game plan to consider:
1. Get a good HU (radio) One that has the features you desire and can add amplification later via RCA outputs. Most aftermarket HU's deliver 18-26 watts (RMS) power per channel. Some of the better models have AUX inputs, so you can add portable devices if you wish. Some of the better brands are Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer, Blaupunkt and the upper end Sony's are not all bad either. This is your mixing console for everything to come later. Don't scrimp on this purchase or will be yanking it out for a better one later.
2. Speakers are the soul of a system. Once you know what sizes are needed, go and demo a few brands until you find one that sounds good to your ears. For the front part of the car, this is where we often invest the most $$. Some like 2-3 way Coaxials. Those who really want the best, use component speakers. (midbass and tweeter with a high quality crossover) For the rear stage of the car, 2-way Coaxials will do fine in most cases. Alpine, Pioneer Premier, Infinity and many others will offer great performance... especially with additional amping power.
3. Subs are the bad boys that give us the lower 2 octaves of bass. We have to match them carefully to a given system with the proper amp and filtering. A single 10 or 12" sub will give some nice bump at say 300 watts (RMS) power.
There is much more detail to follow, but this is intended more as a primmer. Chew it all over and have a look at our DIY articles. Lots of good info there.
Swez
PS Welcome to CK. Please note this is a PG rated site. We don't allow colorful language. Would you mind going back to edit them out. Thanks!
Mr._Miyagi on 02/1/2005 16:10:14
Hey so it turns out my dad has some old speakers that he got for free from somewhere and I was wondering if I should use them. They are sony EXS-63 Coaxial 2-way speakers 60 W Max. Input power. If I use them, should I just put em in the back and buy new ones for the front? Also, my radio as it is right now, turns on and off randomly, do you think a new HU would fix that or do i need electrical done?
Mr._Miyagi on 02/1/2005 16:10:59
By the way, Thanks so much for all your help so far, it really is a great source of knowledge! Keep up the good work!
Mr._Miyagi on 02/1/2005 16:28:21
Is this a good head unit? Blaupunkt BPV 660 CD Stereo Receiver
I found it on http://www.thezeb.com/p-Blaupunkt-BPV-660-CD-Stereo-Receiver-100668.htm and it says it used to be $229 and is now $85. What do you guys think?
Mr._Miyagi on 02/1/2005 16:47:37
what do you think? the Blaupunkt or this Panasonic MXE CQ-C5210U which i found on crutchfield for $150? In terms of the specs, I can't see why the Panasonic is better then the Blau cuz the Blau has 27 RMS and the Pana has 25 RMS. Any suggestions?
uochronos on 02/1/2005 16:50:35
for free try those sony speakers cant hurt to try them can it. but sony is known for there speakers tend to be really shrill sounding on the highs... can get a better set for 40-60$ online...
as for the HU blaupunkt makes some good HU's
alpine
pioneer
kenwood
blaupunkt
JVC
all make good HU's
now when looking for an HU the main idea is get every thin you need... make sure it has a Decent Equalizer(EQ) , enoughy RCA preouts.. you well need at least a non fading sub output and preferabley 2 full range outs a front and a rear channel. and any other feature you may want to have.
if you where looking to spend 300$ as mentioned earlier... may i suggest getting a decent alpine, pioneer or kenwood HU and a pair of CL-61a CDT components from www.thezeb.com you should be able to get both for around 250-300$ and you well get some amazing sound...
a good HU with a nice set of component speakers like the CDT's i mentioned well be very impresive sounding... for awhile alls i had was my HU and a set of components in my truck it sounded wonderfull and i'm a SQ nut...
if you got for insatance the HU you found or a similar one for around 100$ and then the CDT's for 150$ that would be a very good sounding start. and you would still have 50$ to use to get a decent set of rear fill speakers... or use the ones your dad gave you for rear fill...
i think this set up or a similar one well impress your friend alot... and if it doesnt then he is just jealous hehe.
Chronos
audeogod on 02/1/2005 17:25:02
Some people may frown on this, but I got almost all my gear at Wal-Mart. Their Pioneer stereos are just as good as a Pioneer you'd buy of the same level at an audio store. They only carry the mid to low level lines of Pioneer in the $189 and down range, but it's the same stuff as at another store unless you want more features that aren't found on these lower models. But the higher end Pioneers sell for sometimes more than you have to spend on your whole system at the moment. Like $500 or more. And the lower end ones sound the same. Higher end ones have more RCA outs, and other functions, but sound quality would be the same since they mostly have the same EQ set up from low end to high end. Occasionally, Pioneer will change this for one year or so like some higher models a couple years ago had 3 band EQ's and also a separate bass and treble setting that was fixed at a certain frequency. That in essence made it a 5 band EQ where the lower models didn't have that and were only 3 band EQ's only.
Anyway, I found that I liked the Pioneers Wal-Mart had. Their speakers are OK too, I got all of mine there, but I wasn't completely satisfied with them. But some of that was due to the locations and sizes that my truck takes. Every car is different. I had a car, not a truck, that also all came from Wal-Mart and I loved every minute of it until I sold it for this truck, and had to start over on a new system.
Wal-Mart currently sells the Pioneer, Sony, and Lightning Audio brands of speakers. They had Pioneer, Sony, and JVC head units. You will also find low level, just about worthless stuff there like Road Gear and Road Master. They used to carry Jensen too but not anymore. I rarely ever heard anything by Jensen that I liked. But it was affordable. Recently they started selling Dual, which I never heard of, but someone else said it used to be a great name but some company bought it out just for the name and was making worthless gear under it. I don't know personally.
This is all based on the Wal-Mart store near me. Yours may be different if you have one near you(hard to imagine you don't), but they're all supposed to be similar so check it out.
uochronos on 02/1/2005 18:24:03
actualy wal mart sell pioneer not pioneer premier deck which makes a big differnce in quality and the features... also they sell lower end speakers and HU's. not bashing on you audeogod just letting light on this... a pioneer say deh-p6400 and a deh-p640 are completly differnt HU's only 1 digit differnce on model number but the p640 has a better EQ, DSP, and better RCA voltage which all makes a huge differnce...
also they sell low end coaxil speakers the differnce between there coaxils and the ones you would get online or from a car audio store are going to be a huge differnce..
the reason i bring this up is i bought a Deh-p6400 instead of a deh-p640 because the guy at best buy told me it was basicaly the same deck just an internal amp was differnt... well to say the least i saived 100$ but got a HU that wasnt at all what i needed nor nearly as good as the one i should have got... that was 4 years ago i learned my lessong when buy from retail store whether it be wall mart, best buy or car toys. You get what you pay for. if wal mart is 100$ cheaper then car toys it is for a reason and you well get what you pay for...
not saying dont buy from wal mart if they have what you want but i'm saying dont be taken in by them. the HU's, speakers and amps they sell are not the same as the better models found at cartoys, and other local car audio dealers.
Chronos
audeogod on 02/1/2005 18:54:36
Yeah, I know about Pioneer vs. Pioneer Premier. But what I'm talking about is Pioneer at Wal-Mart vs. Pioneer(not Premier) at somewhere else.
The best example I can think of is back in 99 when they first came out with the new Mosfet HU's. Wal-Mart sold a DEH-10. Everywhere else, K-mart and all, it was a DEH-1000. Neither of these was a Premier model. As far as I could see, the only difference was that the 10 had orange lights, and the 1000 had green.
No arguement on the speakers though. I'm not fully happy with mine. I thought I was at first, cause it's a major difference from factory, but I still can't get it to sound exactly like I'd like, and I'm not sure how much of that is from the location vs. what they are, and like you said, where they came from.
uochronos on 02/1/2005 19:06:51
well i couldnt even find info on the DEH-10 but found the specs for the DEH0-1000... i can tell you right now though that no company makes 2 HU models that are identical except for the color of the screen... the internal parts are problay way differnt if they where the same just cheaper why wouldnt everyone carry the cheaper one?
the RMS rating on the more expensive one could be higher, the eq could be better, the RCA's could be higher voltage, etc..
i have never seen any company though make 2 identical HU's just one more expensive...
Chronos
Mr._Miyagi on 02/1/2005 19:27:07
I don't mean to be rude but I'll interject real quick. Anyone have any thoughts on the Radio issue (It turning on and off randomly) and the Blaupunkt vs Panasonic HU? Thanks
uochronos on 02/1/2005 19:48:18
i have never used a panasonic HU but if it has all the features you need i dont see a problem with them... both blaupunkt and panasonic have been around for awhile... might wanna look into JVC as well they make some great products cheap.
i suggest looking on ebay and www.thezeb.com crutchfield is far over priced on 90% of there products...
as for turning on and off randomly... sounds like a loose wire somewhere or a bad internal part... i would check all the power and grounds.
Chronos
audeogod on 02/1/2005 20:20:19
I have one of the DEH-10 stereos in my wife's car. I bought it several years ago. I have the owner's manual too still. I will try to find the specs on the DEH-1000 and see if they match what my manual says. But as far as I remember, what they publish for specs was an exact match. May be some other differences inside though. Something that's not listed on the information sheet.
I figured it's because Wal-Mart persuaded this company to make a product that only they would have. So they could get it cheaper or sell it cheaper or something. I used to work there, so I'm negatively biased against Wal-Mart. I also saw that they had an Abu Garcia fishing reel that had the Wal-Mart logo on the reel itself. It was made by Garcia, and you could buy the same model at K-mart, and Bass Pro Shops, but not with the Wal-Mart FLW Tour logo on it. Model number was similar, but not the same. Features were identical though.
I thought this Pioneer stereo was another example of that then too, so I checked up on the specs to see what they were and it was all the same RMS and PEAK values and all. EQ was the same for frequency adjustments and all. Color was the only difference I ever found aside from the Model number.
They did a whole series of these. They also had the DEH-20(same as DEH-2000) and the only difference from The DEH-10 was the detachable face.
The following year, it was the DEH-11(same as DEH-1100). It went on like that all the way until I quit in 2002 after 10 years working there. I quit following the Pioneer model numbers then too. But like I said, I never found a single difference visually, audibly, or otherwise the whole time I worked there.
For myself I got a DEH-P41 from Wally World, which should be the same as the DEH-P4100.
Anyway, I got too far off track here. My original opinion on this still stands since in my experience, they had good equipment from Pioneer. It was affordable, and good quality. JVC makes excellent products too. Never owned or fooled with a Blaupunkt so I couldn't say on that.
I got my Pioneer from Wal-Mart and I've had the same deck since 2000 and it's been going strong now and has been in three different cars/truck. I paid $199 for it. It even had a car alarm built right into it, but I never wired that part up. Wasn't shock sensing, only electrical so I figured why bother cause a thief ain't gonna open the door with a key and turn on the light, he's gonna bust a window.
Mr._Miyagi on 02/1/2005 20:24:56
ive been researching HUs all day now and have come to the conclusion I want an Alpine, Problem is I am quite confused. Would one of you guys suggest an alpine head unit 150 or cheaper? all I need in terms of features, CD, FM/AM, and some outputs or whatever for an amp or whatnot. Thanks so much!
audeogod on 02/1/2005 20:29:48
One other thing I want to clarify. I am negative about Wal-Mart on their marketing strategies, employee treatment and such. Not their products. I've had no trouble from anything I've bought their other than the usual defects that you might find anywhere you go.
And also, I don't know what the implications are of posting here about negatives of a store(maybe being deflamatory), but I am not trying to get anything started. I just was trying to explain how I thought that they could be getting their own products, so to speak, from major companies, that other stores wouldn't have by using their buying powers and such. I see that as twisting the industry's arm to make it do what you say. Monopolizing if you will. Maybe I better quit....
gearhead on 02/1/2005 21:08:48
I just got done with an amp/speaker upgrade/CD changer install. I used the factory HU (Chrysler) and it sounds just fine to me. The stock HU has all of the functions I need (AM/FM/Cassette). Best of all, the cost of the HU was $0.
uochronos on 02/2/2005 02:36:10
good choice alpine makes some of the very best HU's
Alpine
CDA-9825 AM/FM CD Player
is the one i found that suits your needs the best from what i can tell... it also is the only one in your price range that has multiple RCA preouts.. that way you can hook up multiple amps later if needed or wanted:)
this HU retails for 199.99 but shop online a bit and you can get that down to 150 or less very likly... i cant look tonight but i well browse and find you some good buys on it tommarow..
Chronos
Mr._Miyagi on 02/2/2005 13:17:35
Thanks for the suggetion. I looked around and that seems to have been replaced by model #9820. I can't find the 25 around at most sites but the 20 i so much more expensive. What shall i do?
uochronos on 02/2/2005 14:18:41
i went to www.froogle.com and searched for it found a bunch of them for 140-160$ and a couple on ebay for 110-140$ all where new that i looked at.. they where all the CDA-9825 model..
i know its an older model thats why i suggested it last years model well be cheap at alot of online places...
Chronos
Mr._Miyagi on 02/3/2005 21:08:12
Quick question, when i do the rear coax speaker install, do i just rip out the old ones, and put the wires from the old into the new? This is before I purchase a head unit and new speakers. The speakers that I'm installing have no instructions.
audeogod on 02/3/2005 21:25:31
Well, when you say "rip out" I hope you mean remove with tools, haha. Anyway, if you got an exact size match to your factory speakers, then you can cut the wires to the old ones, leaving them long enough to work with of course, and using crimp connectors(I like the blue butt connectors the best), attach the speaker leads that your new speakers "should have" come with and then plug them into your new speakers to be able to play them.
Now for some details. First, you want to make sure you have the polarity correct for your new speakers. And you might want to leave a little wire on the old factory harness for incase you ever decide to take out your new speakers and reinstall the old ones so you can sell the car, and keep your gear.
This is a two fold deal since leaving a little wire(about 1.5 - 2 inches should be plenty), will also let you test the old speaker for polarity. That way you don't need a factory color code to know which wire is what.
Use a 9 volt battery and touch it to the speaker leads on the old speaker. This will tell you which side of the old speaker was the positive. If the battery polarity is right, the speaker will move outward. If it goes inward then it's backwards. Then when you figure that out, look at the wire color that the positive battery terminal was touching. That color in your car is the positive speaker lead and should be attached to the new speaker's positive terminal. Easy as sin. See?
Then you just bolt up the new speaker to the old hole. Same thing on all the other speakers. Makes factory replacement an easy job.
audeogod on 02/3/2005 21:34:04
Well, I said it was an easy job, but here's how it could be hard. Every car is different and getting to the speakers could be difficult. Taking trim and grills off and all. Go slow if you don't see any easy way of getting to them. Look for screws to remove that would be necessary to remove. If trim is still stuck, then it has some hidden clips or fittings that should "pop" off with a little convincing. Be careful since this could be the part of the install that goes south in a hurry if you get in a hurry and break something you wish you would not have. Friction fittings can be stubborn, but I've never had a problem getting them to come off if you take your time. I can't stress this enough since in old cars the trim or anything plastic sometimes becomes brittle from being exposed to extreme heats and colds and is easy to break sometimes.
uochronos on 02/3/2005 21:41:11
you can leave the stock plug on and buw an adaptor... or make your own... they sell adaptors for many common cars and i have made a couple out of crimps... also you can use a dab of solder to connect the wire to the terminal that way tyou can easily reinstall stock speakers later....
just my 2 cents..
Chronos
Mr._Miyagi on 02/3/2005 23:07:42
Do u think I can get these supplies that should have come with my speakers at like Ace Hardware or Autozone or something?
Mr._Miyagi on 02/3/2005 23:19:11
Any of you guys know a somewhat good car audio book or something? None of my friends know anymore then me about this. And though you say its easy, it seems quite hard. Anyhow, either way, I think ill mess wit the car tomorrow and just hope for the best. I just wish I had someone near me who has done this before.
uochronos on 02/4/2005 00:13:43
pretty simple just hook one wire to one terminal and the other wire to the other terminal.. the only trick part is make sure you hook the positive to positive and negitive to negetive... hooking thme up backwards wont hurt the speaker but it was sound as loud is they dont all play in phase.
Chronos
audeogod on 02/4/2005 00:55:25
Go to www.crutchfield.com. Order a free catalog. It's full of car audio gear at pretty high prices. You just want this catalog cause it's full of information that will tell you what to look for when buying gear. But I'd buy equipment from online places like eBay and others. Crutchfield has some OK prices and also lots of freebies when you buy from them like installation kits and harnesses and instructions for your specific car. Also they offer tech help from a 1-800 phone number. You can even buy instructions for taking your car apart to install it all for about $5.
Anyway, in the catalog, you will find where you can order a free guide to car stereo installation. It will teach you even more. A lot more! This will really get you going on installing and understanding this stuff.
Both of these are free. But also in the catalog is a car stereo book called the "car stereo cookbook". It's about $25 but I've heard it's well worth it. I was going to get one myself but I wanted to wait and see if it would teach me anymore than I already know. If you don't know much at all, then it would teach you a lot.
But I learned a lot just from the free stuff.
Mr._Miyagi on 02/4/2005 17:44:09
Ok so it turns out my front speakers are 4 in speakers according to crutchfield, but my trunk lid ones are infact 6 and 1/2 inch
Mr._Miyagi on 02/4/2005 22:22:36
Any recommendations for 4 inch component speakers? I had such a great deal for 6 1/2 components, so now I am bummed. I was gonna get these http://www.thezeb.com/p-CDT-Audio-CL-61A-6-1-2-inch-Component-System-101083.htm but now, if i want the same model, but in 4 inch form, id pay 90 buck more...Is it even worth it to do this project or is 4 inch comps just not worth the money?
audeogod on 02/4/2005 22:51:06
I don't know about the 4" component thing, but to remove rear speakers, you'll have to first remove the top of the rear deck. You can see the bottom of the speaker from the trunk, but they most likely will be mounted in from the top. So if you remove the rear deck cover, you should see the screws that hold them in.
This may be harder than sounds. You have to look to see what all trim is around it and on top of it that might be holding it in place. It might take some time, but it usually can be done within a few hours, and maybe a little longer if you are inexperienced. I don't have any specific directions for you except to say to contact Crutchfield. They may have a set of plans for your car that you can purchase for about $5.00.
Mr._Miyagi on 02/4/2005 22:55:05
one problem I am having (out of many) is that I can't figure out how the carpeting on the trunklid is attached. In the beginning I thought it was with screws (which turned out to be plastic screws) but now I think it is glued on. Any body have any experience with removing that sort of thing?
Mr._Miyagi on 02/5/2005 16:31:15
Today, I asked Crutchfield to recommend some speakers and this is what they came up with. JBL GTO426 for the 4 inchers and Infinity Reference 6002si for the 6 and 1/2 inchers, and then I will get either the Panasonic MXE CQ-C5210U H/U or the previously suggested Alpine CDA-9825 or CDA-9820 or something around there. Opinions? should I look for better speakers? Which H/U do you guys think?
uochronos on 02/5/2005 22:29:17
MA, CDT, infinit i belive all mke 4" components but you can probaly cut a 6.5 hole if you dont mind cutting hehe..
CDT HD series has a nice set of 4" components but they are a bit spendy.
Chronos
uochronos on 02/8/2005 02:46:40
honestly all the HU's you list are good... and about eqaul... the biggest thing i would lean towards is if one has mroe RCA's for later upgrades.. Honestly i think i have told you all i can about the differnt HU's you made some fine selections in your price range and all about equal out. its more your own personaly like now..
As for the speakers infinity makes some fine speakers well brighten up your rear stage great. i personaly have always loved Infinity.
Only suggestion i have is i didnt realize the 4" fronts where coaxils.. if you have a bit of extra money might wanna look for a set of 4" components for the front. this well greatly increase your sound quality of the front stage.
I dont have time right now but i well look up some good 4" comps in your price range and list them here later tonight or tommarow afternoon.
Chronos
Good Luck.
Mr._Miyagi on 02/8/2005 10:02:27
Sorry bout that Chronos, the reason this message board went up to the top was cuz i edited some messeges, that one that you were replying to was actualy old, Im stickin with my current HU, The Pioneer. As for the rears, I probably will get those CDTs, but input on the 4'' comps would be nice. Thanks
ryan2 on 02/8/2005 13:23:12
For your fronts you can still go with the 61/2's still. You might even have to cut a bigger hole. In my cavalier the stock front speakers are 4x6's. I bought a pair of the CDT Cl-61a 61/2's and they went in fine all i had to do was make a 1/2" ring to go behind the speaker so the magnet wouldnt hit the window.
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